Latest news with #PolokwaneObserver
The Citizen
25-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Rural residents fund road repairs as Polokwane Muni fails to act
POLOKWANE – The gravel roads in the Polokwane municipal area have now fallen into such a state of disrepair that residents have abandoned all hope of any support from the local authority, and attend to do the most urgent maintenance at their own cost. Polokwane Observer recently accompanied Ward 23 councillor, Roelof Lourens to the Soetdorings and Doornbult smallholdings and found that the gravel roads had not been graded for years, making it inaccessible for residents, in particular during the rainy season. You might also want to read: Polokwane Muni faces backlash over road maintenance in Soetdorings A local resident, Ricolette von Benecke, confirmed that the matter has been raised with the municipality at various levels, but to no avail. 'We are now using our own labour and resources to attend to the places where motorists can't even drive their children to school or reach medical care in case of emergencies,' she said. During the visit, Von Benecke was seen supervising workers loading material to cover manholes in ZN and ZM streets in Soetdorings. 'The residents are contributing by providing wages for the workers, equipment and fuel,' she added and confirmed that roughly R24 000 has been spent on road ZJ during February this year while residents had to continue paying rates and taxes to the municipality. After the rains in late January and February this year, some residents could not exit their properties and children consequently could not be taken to school. Even tractors got stuck on road ZB. According to Lourens, the matter has been raised with the municipality's manager of roads and stormwater, Pilot Ramothwala who they invited to a meeting on site. He, however, did not honour the invitation. Numerous follow-ups were made, they said, with no result. 'It appears that the municipality only utilises its so-called yellow fleet to do quick window dressing before a funeral or a visit from a high-ranking politician and sees no priority in attending to our gravel roads,' another resident said. At places in the city where municipal labourers were found, it was apparent that there was a lack economical utilisation of resources, with one worker half-heartedly grafting while 10 are supervising. Polokwane Observer raised the matter with the municipality six months ago and requested a works programme relating to maintenance of gravel roads in the rural areas, but no response was received after repeated reminders. The municipality was also requested to provide a list of all the gravel roads in the municipal area as well as a schedule of repairs done, but it appears that such information is not available. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Branch disputes cast doubt on ANC Peter Mokaba conference
POLOKWANE – Tensions continue to mount ahead of the ANC's Peter Mokaba Region conference, with unresolved branch-level disputes casting doubt on whether the event will go ahead as planned this weekend. Despite protests by aggrieved members on Wednesday, Regional Task Team spokesperson Adolph Rapetswa insists the conference will proceed. He reaffirmed the team's position in a statement to Polokwane Observer on Thursday, saying the event is still scheduled as per the recently confirmed dates. On Wednesday, frustrated members from various regional branches demonstrated outside the ANC's Limpopo headquarters, Frans Mohlala House in Biccard Street eventually leading to the Polokwane Council Chambers. #Limpopo #Polokwane #FYP #ANC #PeterMokaba ♬ original sound – plkreview @polokwanereview Tensions continue to mount ahead of the ANC's Peter Mokaba Region conference, with unresolved branch-level disputes casting doubt on whether the event will go ahead as planned this weekend. Despite protests by aggrieved members on Wednesday, Regional Task Team spokesperson Adolph Rapetswa insists the conference will proceed. He reaffirmed the team's position in a statement to Polokwane Observer on Thursday, saying the event is still scheduled as per the recently confirmed dates. #ReviewOnline The protesters, who claim to be part of Mamedupi Teffo's slate, accused the Provincial Dispute Resolutions Committee (PDRC) of approving the conference date despite several disputes lodged regarding alleged undemocratic processes during recent branch general meetings. The group alleges that in certain branches, meetings were intentionally collapsed and branch executives were handpicked instead of being democratically elected—effectively allowing delegates aligned to John Mpe to dominate the upcoming conference vote. Mpe, the sitting convener and former chairperson, is seeking a third term and faces opposition from Teffo. Protesters claim 49 out of 103 branches have filed disputes, citing issues such as parallel meeting packages and scheduling irregularities. If these are not resolved, the region may not meet the required 70% threshold to hold the conference. Calls for the disbandment of the regional team and provincial intervention have intensified. ANC Limpopo spokesperson Jimmy Machaka confirmed that grievances have been received and are under review, however, he could not say whether the national and provincial dispute resolution committees would finalise their assessments in time. 'We remain hopeful that by the time the conference sits, all matters will be resolved,' Machaka said, adding that the process should not hinder the event if the disputes are addressed appropriately. Rapetswa said the team had received 39 formal disputes from the PDRC, five of which had been resolved by Tuesday. He suggested the protesters were acting outside internal party processes and called into question the legitimacy of their concerns. 'These are not genuine grievances. Some members appear to be rented and the coordinator of the protest remains unknown,' he said. 'We are working within a strict six-month mandate which began in December when the previous executive's term ended.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
06-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Citizen
Baila Fitness brings dance workouts to Polokwane
POLOKWANE – Residents can now dance their way to fitness with the introduction of Baila Fitness Dancing – a fun and energetic new workout format launched by local entrepreneur Wally Strauss, the founder of Qeshet Events and Marketing. 'Baila' means 'dance' in Spanish, and Strauss says these sessions are designed to get you moving, sweating, and smiling. 'We're kicking off with fun dance classes focused on fitness – it's about getting fit, learning new dance skills, and enjoying music that caters to all ages,' he told Polokwane Observer. Classes began on May 5 and will be hosted at 115 Diemeer Street. Each 30-minute session includes a warm-up, high-energy dance workout, and a calming cool-down. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or a complete beginner, the goal is to create a welcoming space for everyone with a shared passion for health and movement. Participants can choose between flexible class times, including Mondays at 17:00 and 18:00, and Wednesdays at 17:30 – perfect for those with busy schedules. Monthly membership is R300, granting access to all sessions, or you can drop in for R80 per class. To secure a spot, send a message to 072 793 8292. 'If you're ready to move, sweat and connect with others in a fun way, this is the perfect place to start,' Strauss said. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Polokwane car guard prepares for Comrades Marathon
POLOKWANE – By day, Wilson Letsoalo works as a car guard – but his true passion lies in pounding the pavement. Now, after years of local races and intense training, he is preparing to take on the world-renowned Comrades Marathon, the gruelling 90km ultra-marathon set for June 8. Letsoalo's running journey began long before he entered official races. 'I always had a passion for running because I started running at an early age, but I was not competing in marathons, I just ran for fitness,' he told Polokwane Observer. Since 2018, he has competed in numerous local events, including the Polokwane City Marathon, Mall of the North Marathon, Mzansi Athletics Club Half Marathon, and the Makoro Village Marathon. Each race has brought him closer to his dream of qualifying for the Comrades, one of the toughest endurance races in the world. With race day approaching, Letsoalo appeals to the community for support to help cover his accommodation and transportation costs. Anyone who would like to contribute or learn more can contact Wilson at 076 887 9170 or 076 295 2639. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
